Sample Motion Triggered Camera Recording - 4-Cam

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Questions

How might I set up 4 cameras to record on motion?

Answer

You can use this example to create motion sensor-triggered camera macros. This example will not work with the FloodCam.

This macro is designed to monitor four cameras. When triggered by the associated motion sensor, it will switch to the front door camera and start recording video. When motion ceases, recording will stop. [Note: Recording will stop after motion ceases, plus motion sensor's "No Motion Delay Setting."]

Step 1: Set Up Cameras and Sensors

Put the sensors on House Code B and Unit Codes 1 through 4. Put the cameras on House Code C and Unit Codes 1 through 4. Mount each sensor near the camera with the corresponding Unit Code. Create a new room in ActiveHome Pro named Recording Setup; add the cameras and sensors to that room.

Step 2: Create the First Start Recording Macro

If you have never made a macro before, please read Creating A Macro first.

Create a new macro in the room named Front Yard. Change the name of the macro to Start Recording, and change the trigger address to B1 On -- the address of the first motion sensor we have set up in the Recording Setup.

Step 3: Select the Camera

Select "Video Functions" from the room list on the right side of Macro Designer, and then drag the "Select Camera" command into your macro. In the drop-down list, select the camera at C1. If using a Ninja Base or professional camera, you could use the "Goto Camera Preset" step instead of "Select Camera" to ensure the camera points where the motion sensor is looking.

Step 4: Record Video

Go back to the "Video Functions" selection in the room list and put the "Video Recording" command in the macro. It will automatically set itself to the "Start" function. This command will tell iWitness to record the incoming video to a file on your computer.

Step 5: Create the Stop Recording Macro

Create a new macro in the room named Front Yard. Change the name of the macro to Stop Recording and change the trigger address to B1 Off.

Step 6: Stop Recording Video

Go back to the "Video Functions" selection in the room list and put the "Video Recording" command in the macro. It will automatically set itself to the "Start" function, so select "Stop."

Step 7: Create Six More Macros

Repeat steps 2 through 6 three times- once for B2/C2, once for B3/C3, and once for B4/C4.

Conclusion

The macros are now finished. If you are using the Video Samples file, you could have the chime sound or turn on a light when the Start Recording macro runs. Just open the macro in the Macro Designer, select the room you want to add modules from, and drag them into the macro. If you have lights come on in the Start Recording macro, you will probably want to turn them off in the Stop Recording macro.

Installing iWitness adds many new options to your ActiveHome Pro Preferences. Use these options to adjust how your ActiveHome Pro stores pictures and video, and how it works with your cameras. To open the video options, select Preferences from the Tools menu. Use the arrows at the top of the window to scroll through the Options tabs and click on the one you want to change.

Advanced Setup

If you have the SmartMacros plugin, we recommend you move to the configuration shown here after getting the macro setup above working.